Cockfighting bust, Midland County,

Audrie PalmerMidland Reporter-Telegram

Published 9:00 pm, Tuesday, March 9, 2010

With the warmer weather, and spring and summer time approaching, Midland County Sheriff's Office officials are anticipating the start of more outdoor activities, even some of those that may be illegal like cockfighting.

"They happen. It's getting to be that time of the year where they're beginning to pick back up," said Midland County Sheriff's Office investigator Ronny Aaron.

Over the weekend, deputies made nine arrests when they busted a cockfight in progress and found 10 individuals and four children watching the fight.

While investigators said it wasn't as big of a bust as last year's at the Midland-Martin county line, which netted 83 arrests and more than $88,000 cash, they still charged nine men with cruelty to animals, a state-jail felony, and confiscated eight live roosters and about $2,000.

Three of the nine arrested remained behind bars Tuesday being held on bonds of $10,000 each and detained for immigration services for being in the country illegally, according to Midland County records.

The four children found were released to the care of their mother, said authorities.

According to Aaron, a concerned citizen called the office to let them know the fight was taking place. When deputies arrived in the 3300 block of South County Road 1200 around 6 p.m. Saturday evening, they found the men in an area with livestock pens engaging in rooster fights.

Some of the men tried to kick dirt and hay over the top of three dead roosters when officers arrived in an effort to hide them, Aaron said, and deputies also found a spur still attached to one of the deceased birds.

A black box containing five other spurs also was seized from the premises along with spur covers, gauze tape and wound spray, officials said.

The eight live roosters were seized by the city of Midland's animal control and currently are held by law enforcement until a judge rules whether they should be adopted out or given back to the homeowner.

This was the first time, Aaron said, authorities had responded to the property in reference to cockfighting.

While cockfighting is illegal in Texas, Midland County has only had a few arrests and busts over the years, and officials don't think it's a major problem for the area.

"I don't think it's a problem. We've had it," said Sheriff Gary Painter. "When we run across them, we bust them."

In the past few years, they've also made arrests in several dogfights, another illegal sport, and ask all county residents to help shut down suspicious activities.

Some of the things officials are asking for those to be on the lookout for are large gatherings of groups of people around pen areas or in the middle of nowhere and dead animals, whether it be dogs or roosters, near property where a fight may be taking place.

Anyone noticing either one of those signs are asked to call either Crime Stoppers at 694-TIPS or the Sheriff's Office at 688-4600 with information.